NEWS

The International Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Symposium (IVECCS) brought veterinary professionals from around the world to Savannah for four days in September, with approximately 5,500 attendees each day. The symposium generated an estimated $3,199,724.60 in economic impact for Savannah and Chatham County and was the largest group ever hosted at the newly expanded Savannah Convention Center.

“IVECCS was a milestone for Savannah and a tremendous opportunity to welcome veterinary professionals from around the world,” said Joseph Marinelli, president and CEO of Visit Savannah. “The Savannah Convention Center team deserves high praise for its preparation, professionalism and partnership in hosting a group of this size. Their work helped create a successful experience for attendees and showcased Savannah’s ability to host major events.”

Meetings like IVECCS support local hotels, restaurants, attractions, transportation providers and other businesses. They also help sustain visitor spending throughout the year, including in September and other periods between peak travel seasons.

“From our hotels and restaurants to attractions and transportation partners, the convention’s estimated $3.2 million economic impact was felt across the entire area,” said Kellie Linder, vice president of sales and services for Visit Savannah. “Hosting an international audience also showcased our destination on a global stage and reinforced the value of Savannah’s meetings and convention industry.”